We all know from experience the potential dangers of importing an international festival ‘brand’ to Australia. When it’s a festival as steeped in mythology and non-conformity as Burning Man, though, the risk is even more pronounced. On the Queens Birthday long weekend, June 10-14, Australia’s first official Burning Man event Burning Seed will set up camp on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. The exact location will be revealed only to those who purchase tickets.

Staging a Burning Man event away from its stomping grounds of the Black Rock Desert in northern Nevada is not as simple as transplanting a name and logo. The event is predicated on ten guiding principles that promote inclusion, participation, accountability and decommodification (that is, freedom of corporate sponsors or advertising). In short, it’s no walk in the desert to stay true to the Burning Man spirit. However, investigating the message-heavy Burning Seed website is a clear indication that no values will be compromised. But will Australian festival-goers delve right in?

One of the most exciting results of the all-inclusive community spirit at Burning Man in Nevada would have to be the chance to experience DJs in a context far removed from what we’re used to. The various floats, hollowed-out buses and makeshift stages have hosted the likes of Tiesto, Adam Freeland, Freq Nasty, Lee Coombs and countless others over the years, but (largely) without the fanfare and promotion that usually surrounds them. Often the DJs are unannounced, and make their way to the desert just to be a part of it.

After making his Burning Man debut in 2008, Carl Cox has been a tireless advocate of the event. “I’m not even going there to get paid in any way, shape or form,” he told djmag in 2009. “I am at Burning Man at the same level as everyone else. I would say 85 to 90 per cent of the people there didn’t know who I was. I’m just another dude from another country dressed in shorts, ripped shirts, a cowboy hat with lights on it, goggles, a pink scarf.”

The attraction for those making the pilgrimage into the wilds of NSW, though, is unlikely to be superstar DJs. For many, it’ll be the chance to go down the rabbit hole and embrace the ‘immediate experience’ – if only for a long weekend. For the electronic music enthusiasts, there’s the attraction of dancing freely all night in the great outdoors to trance, techno, breaks and various weird and wonderful variants in between. Artists, performers and DJs offer their services by volunteering, so it’s also free of promoter battles.

With one of the key tenets of Burning Man in Nevada being freedom of expression, there’s also a steadfast protocol to what can be captured on camera. Working within these guidelines, Sharam of Deep Dish made a fascinating mini-documentary Get Wild In Black Rock City of his virgin voyage to Burning Man in 2009. If you’re unsure of what you might find at Burning Seed, this is a very good place to start.

In the words of Carl Cox: “There’s nothing else like it: Coachella, Glastonbury, Creamfields – bring anything on. There’s nothing else like it.” Have a look at Get Wild In Black Rock City below.

Burning Seed runs from June 10-14 2010 in NSW. The 10 principles of the festival and ticket details can be found at burningmanaustralia.com. Would you make the journey? Do you believe it will work in Australia? Let us know in the comments field below.